Timed Scripts

[MrRage]

Is there an easy way to launch scripts based on the system clock, like an update script at 3:00am each day?

[Fitch]

Make a FileMaker file with a script that calls the script you want to run in the target file, then closes itself. Set this script to run at startup. Then use the Windows scheduler to launch this file.

[MrRage]

Simple yet effective - Too bad it can't do it on its own but this will work, thanks a lot

[CobaltSky]

Hi,

FWIW, there are also various third-party plug-ins that provide this capability. They may be no more effective than the method that Tom suggested above, but are more 'portable' (eg x-plat) and do not require system-level configuration.

Examples of shareware plug-ins that include this functionality include Troi Activator, CNS SCRIPTit and oAzium Events.

[John Fowler]

I just ran across this thread looking for free or cheap plugins to handle timed FMP scripts. For what it's worth, on OSX, you can use iCal to open an AppleScript that uses the "do script" tell. The beauty is that iCal operates in the background without actually launching, and runs the AppleScript without opening any documents or apps, so the whole thing is invisible. Writing the AppleScript takes about 10 seconds, faster even than writing an FMP script. And it doesn't cost $90 like all the schedule plugins seem to...

J

[Computer Geek]

I've tried both the 3rd party programs and the one like Fitch suggested. For my money, it was much easier to schedule a task in windows to open a starter file.

[David Smith]

I have a similar problem. One approach is to have a script that is an endless loop but normally paused for a defined period of time. During the pauses you can access most things in your database. When the loop reactivates, it checks the time, decides whether to do anything, and then pauses again.

In order for this to work with other scripts, I launch them with buttons and use the "resume other script" option for each button.

So, you get the effect of a "background task" that periodically checks time (or other things), and can do tasks at specific times. Have the script start automatically, using document preferences. It should be fairly platform-independent.